Workers tell Harvey Norman to support pay rise
Hobart May 28, 2021
Green Left Weekly
Around 100 people joined a protest outside Harvey Norman on May 28 to support the Australian Council of Trade Union’s submission for a 3.5% increase to workers through the annual wage review.

Billionaire retailer Gerry Harvey’s company has proposed that any raise to the country’s lowest-paid workers be delayed by six months.

This would amount to a wage cut.   :(


Despite increasing its profits 116% during six months of the COVID-19 shut downs, Harvey Norman has insisted on keeping all the $22 million JobKeeper allowance that was paid to it.

Other employers have argued for no increase at all.   :( 

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said on May 28 that Harvey Norman doubled its profits from the global pandemic, “benefited from a delay in the last increase in wages and then refused to pay back JobKeeper”.

She said lowest-paid workers needed their 69 cent an hour pay rise.

“Prime Minister Morrison must also stop supporting big business’ calls for real wage cuts – what the economy needs now is people with money to spend.

“For many workers, a 3.5% increase would make a significant difference after nearly a decade of low wage growth.” McManus said the minimum wage needed to rise to help those who need it most — around half of all award wage workers have insecure casual jobs.